Presidents’ Forum: October 17

Changing the face of American Higher Education

Join us for a lunch and discussion to learn what American higher education might look like in the next 50 years from the perspective of five Union doctoral alumni who have served as college and university presidents across the nation. They will reflect on their education, their experiences, and discuss what we can expect and what is demanded of colleges and universities in an era of increasing technology, federal regulations, and demand for job placement. The panel will include chairs of two accrediting agencies and will be moderated by George A. Pruitt, Ph.D. 1974, president of Thomas Edison State College and chair of the board of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. The discussion will feature a question and answer session with the audience. This event is free and open to the public but reservations are highly recommended. Click here to reserve your spot.

Panelists include:

Dr. George Pruitt

George A. Pruitt (Ph.D. 1974) is president of Thomas Edison State College and chair of the board of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. As New Jersey’s longest-serving college president he is widely respected for his effectiveness as a leader, earning the distinction as one of the most effective college presidents in the United States in a study of presidential leadership funded by the Exxon Education Foundation.

Dr. Mark Schulman

Mark Schulman (Ph.D. 1985) is a consultant with Stevens Strategy, a higher education consulting firm specializing in the development of strategy for colleges, universities and schools. He previously served as president and CEO of Saybrook University in San Francisco, California, a premier graduate institution for humanistic studies with programs in the fields of Organizational Leadership and Transformation, Mind-Body Medicine, Clinical Psychology, and Psychology and Interdisciplinary Inquiry from 2010 to August 2014.

Dr. Judy Walters

Judy E. Walters (Ph.D. 2006) has had the distinct privilege of serving as president and chancellor of four colleges within the California Community College System. Her doctorate degree propelled her career and established a passionate commitment to student learning through the intellectual, scientific, psychological, and ethical development of students. Now serving in interim roles, she has consulted with the chancellor of the Yuba Community College District, and served as interim chancellor of the Chabot Las Positas Community College District, and recently served as interim president of Woodland Community College.

Dr. Scott Miller

Scott Miller (Ph.D. 1991) serves as president of Bethany College in West Virginia and M.M. Cochran Professor of Leaderships Studies. Dr. Miller has dedicated his career to the opportunities available through education. He especially values small, classical, liberal arts colleges that offer students personalized pathways to life and career success. His Union Institute & University doctoral dissertation was a landmark study of resource development effectiveness at the 38 institutions (including Bethany College) with membership in the Appalachian College Association. This research helped him earn the reputation as one of the most entrepreneurial higher education executives in America.

Dr. Gary Wheeler

Gary Wheeler (Ph.D. 2007) president emeritus of Glen Oaks Community College in Centreville, Michigan. Dr. Wheeler serves as the chair of the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), an independent corporation and one of two commission members of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA), which is one of six regional institutional accreditors in the United States. The HLC accredits degree-granting post-secondary educational institutions in the North Central region.